Best Drawing Paper of 2026

Ann Hale Avatar
Ann Hale
Last Updated: Jan 19, 2026

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Drawing paper is an essential item for any artist, whether they are a beginner or a professional. It comes in a variety of sizes and textures, allowing artists to choose the perfect paper for their specific needs. The most common types of drawing paper are smooth, medium, and rough, each providing a different surface for drawing. Drawing paper can be used with a variety of mediums, including pencils, charcoal, pastels, and ink. It is also available in different weights, ranging from lightweight for sketching to heavy for more detailed drawings. With so many options available, artists can find the perfect drawing paper to bring their creative visions to life.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets Cover #TOP 1
PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Colorations Heavyweight Manila Paper 50lb 9x12 Cover #TOP 2
Colorations Heavyweight Manila Paper 50lb 9x12
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets Cover #TOP 3
Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Drawing Paper

#TOP 1

PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets

4739
White
9" x 12"
PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets Cover
Pacon Drawing Paper, White, Standard Weight, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets

PACON Drawing Paper is a high-quality drawing paper that comes in a pack of 500 sheets. Made of 100% sulphite, this pure white paper is perfect for watercolor, crayon, pencil, and charcoal. With its standard weight, it provides an ideal surface for all types of drawing and painting. The paper’s pure white color helps to make your artwork stand out. Whether you are a professional artist, a student, or just someone who enjoys drawing, PACON Drawing Paper is an excellent choice for all your artistic needs.

What We Like
Great for drawing
Smooth texture
Affordable price
Works for bookmaking
Good for kids’ art
What We Don't Like
Paper somewhat thin
Occasional flawed sheets
#TOP 2

Colorations Heavyweight Manila Paper 50lb 9x12

Manila Paper
9" x 12"
Colorations Heavyweight Manila Paper 50lb 9x12 Cover
Colorations Manila Paper - Heavyweight, 50lb, 9 x 12 Inches, 500 Sheets - School & Art Supplies for Kids

The Colorations Manila Paper is designed with a sturdy 50 lb weight, giving you thick, durable sheets that hold up well during creative projects. Each pack contains 500 sheets, so you’ll have plenty of paper for all your drawing and sketching needs. This paper is made from tough fibers, meaning it can handle folding, curling, and scoring without tearing easily, making it ideal for both beginners and more advanced artists. Plus, it works well with a variety of media like crayons, charcoal, pencils, and tempera paints, so you can experiment with different art supplies without worry.

What We Like
Good quality paper
Perfect thickness for schools
Excellent value for price
Versatile for art and learning
Large package size
What We Don't Like
Not as thick as expected
#TOP 3

Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets

004109
Manila
9"x12"
Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets Cover
Pacon 004109 Cream Manila Drawing Paper, 50 lbs., 9 x 12, 500 Sheets/Pack

Pacon Drawing Paper is a medium tooth paper that is perfect for all types of dry media. It has a great texture that makes it suitable for beginning drawing and sketching. The paper works well with crayon, charcoal, pencil, and tempera paint. With 500 sheets and measuring 9" x 12", this drawing paper is a great value. Additionally, it is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly option.

What We Like
Affordable bulk quantity
Ideal for practice sketches
Good for classrooms or kids
Works with various dry media
Comfortable warm cream tone
What We Don't Like
Not high-end or archival
Minor packaging or cutting flaws
#TOP 4

Pacon Drawing Paper P4742

PAC4742
White
12"x18"
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742 Cover
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742, White, Standard Weight, 12" x 18", 500 Sheets

Pacon Drawing Paper P4742 is a lightweight, acid-free and recyclable paper that is perfect for beginning drawing and sketching. It measures 12" x 18" and includes 500 sheets. Its medium tooth makes it suitable for all types of dry media.

What We Like
Reasonable price
Large sheet size
Good for sketching
Ideal for crafts and bookbinding
Suitable for student projects
What We Don't Like
Lightweight paper
Prone to bending or wrinkling
#TOP 5

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500

Sax
053931
Extra-White
9 x 12 Inches
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500 Cover
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500 - 053931

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is a high quality, standard weight paper that is perfect for artists of all levels. This paper accepts both dry and wet media, making it versatile for a variety of uses. Whether you're using markers, crayons, paints, or other mediums, the colors will pop against the extra crisp white of this paper. The exceptional body and strength of this heavy weight paper provides the ideal texture for all dry media renderings, and it erases well. With its durable construction, Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is the best value for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or right at home.

What We Like
Economical bulk pack
Bright white color
Good for various media
No bleed-through with markers
Sturdy and substantial thickness
What We Don't Like
Edges may need trimming
Not ideal for heavy watercolor
#TOP 6

Strathmore 400 Series Smooth Drawing Pad 11x14

P400-105
Cream
11x14
Strathmore 400 Series Smooth Drawing Pad 11x14 Cover
Strathmore (400-105 400 Series Drawing, Smooth Surface, 11x14, White, 24 Sheets

The Strathmore 400 Drawing Pad is designed to offer a smooth and durable surface ideal for a variety of drawing tools. Its micro-perforated pages make it easy for you to tear out sheets cleanly, which is perfect for sharing or displaying your work. The paper is strong enough to handle multiple erasures and adjustments, allowing you to refine your artwork without worrying about damage. Its smooth texture works well with graphite pencils, colored pencils, pens, and markers, giving you versatility in your creative projects.

What We Like
Smooth paper surface
High quality material
Clean erasing
Good for various mediums
Great for ink and pencils
What We Don't Like
Slightly thin for some users
#TOP 7

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, Pack of 500

Sax
053925
Extra-White
9 x 12 Inches
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, Pack of 500 Cover
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 50 lb, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500 - 053925

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is high quality standard weight paper suitable for dry and wet media, including tempera, watercolor, and ink. Its exceptional body and strength make it perfect for all dry media renderings and it erases well. The paper is compatible with markers, crayons, paints, and more, making it ideal for artists of all levels. In addition, its extra-white color enhances colored pencil, heavy black pencil, and charcoal drawings, making colors pop. The paper is a strong and durable option for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or home use.

What We Like
Affordable bulk quantity
Good thickness and body
Suitable for dry media
Works well for kids’ art
Smooth surface for markers
What We Don't Like
Not ideal for wet media
Basic packaging quality
#TOP 8

Sax Manila Drawing Paper

Sax
085529
Manila
9 x 12 Inches
Sax Manila Drawing Paper Cover
Sax Manila Drawing Paper, 40 lb, 9 x 12 Inches, Pack of 500

Sax Drawing Paper is a popular choice for artists of all levels. This cream-colored, rough manila drawing paper is perfect for classroom projects and can be used with a variety of drawing media such as markers, crayons, pens, pastels, and paints. Its strong and durable construction ensures it can withstand heavy use, making it ideal for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or even at home. The warm cream hue adds a touch of elegance, making it suitable for both fun and refined uses like professional resumes and business letters. With a substantial ream of 500 sheets, Sax Drawing Paper provides excellent value and versatility.

What We Like
Good for multiple art mediums
Quick and reliable shipping
Generous quantity for price
Nice manila color
Thick and textured paper
What We Don't Like
May not be archival quality
Not ideal for heavy watercolor
#TOP 9

BEIBOON 100 Sheets Kids Drawing Paper

2330 100P
white100P
9 x 12 inches
BEIBOON 100 Sheets Kids Drawing Paper Cover
100 Sheets Art Paper 9" x 12" Craft Drawing Paper for Sketching, Loose Sketch Paper

BEIBOON Kids Drawing Paper is a fantastic bulk set of 100 sheets, each measuring 9 x 12 inches, perfect for your art projects at home or in school. The lightweight and high-quality paper works wonderfully with markers, crayons, pencils, and more, allowing you to explore your creativity freely. This versatile paper is suitable for both children and adults who love doodling and sketching. Its textured surface enhances your drawing experience, making it a great addition to classrooms or art classes, where imagination can flourish.

What We Like
Easy for kids to use
Good for creative art projects
Affordable price
Fast delivery
What We Don't Like
Paper is very thin
Not true drawing paper
#TOP 10

Pacon Drawing Paper, 6" x 9"

PAC4729
6" x 9"
Pacon Drawing Paper, 6" x 9" Cover
Pacon Drawing Paper, White, Medium Weight, 50lb., 6" x 9", 500 Sheets

Pacon Drawing Paper is a medium weight, acid-free paper with a medium toothy surface, perfect for dry media. With its 6" x 9" size, it is ideal for smaller art projects. The medium weight provides a sturdy surface that won't buckle easily when using heavier media. The medium toothy surface provides enough texture to hold on to dry media, such as charcoal or pastel, while also allowing for smooth blending. The acid-free quality ensures that your artwork will not deteriorate over time, making it a great choice for long-lasting projects.

What We Like
Good print quality
Helpful for book projects
Accurate print size
What We Don't Like
Minor delivery damage
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best paper for drawing?

Drawing paper is a heavier, and better-quality paper than sketching paper. It is commonly used for sketching and finished work. The ideal mediums used with drawing paper are graphite, charcoal, dry monochromes, soft pastel, oil pastel, markers and pen and ink.

2. What is drawing paper called?

Cartridge Paper – Best for Dry Media The paper most commonly associated with drawing is cartridge paper. It is so-called because it was used in the making of paper cartridges in the sixteenth century, holding the ammunition of gunpowder and bullets together for loading into hand-held firearms.

3. What are the two types of drawing paper?

There are several different types of art paper surfaces including Hot Pressed/Satinata/Liscia, Cold Pressed/Not/Fina and Rough/Torchon/Grossa.

4. What is the best drawing paper for beginners?

Strathmore drawing paper pads are a favorite among numerous artists because the brand has a variety of sizes that are suitable for drawing in various dry media. Plus, Strathmore offers the best price-to-quality ratio — a key factor especially for beginners who want a lot of practice.

Editor's Notes

During our drawing paper research, we found 24 drawing paper products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 24,535 customer reviews through our big data system to write the drawing paper list. We found that most customers choose drawing paper with an average price of $19.02.

The drawing paper are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of drawing paper, including Pacon, Colorations, Sax, Strathmore, BEIBOON. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Ann Hale Avatar

Ann Hale is a seamstress, pattern maker, and fashion designer with extensive sewing experience. She has worked in the fashion industry for over 10 years now after receiving Associates's Degree in fashion design in 2010. Also as a writer, she has many creative and unique insights when it comes to articles.

Drawing Paper Comparison Table

#TOP1
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#TOP3
#TOP4
#TOP5
#TOP6
#TOP7
#TOP8
#TOP9
#TOP10
Brand Pacon Colorations Pacon Pacon Sax Strathmore Sax Sax BEIBOON Pacon
Color White Manila Paper Manila White Extra-White Cream Extra-White Manila white100P White, Medium Weight
Material Paper Paper Paper Sulphite Sulphite Paper Sulphite Paper Paper Paper
Sheet Size 9 x 12 inches 9-inchx12-inch 9 x 12 inches 12 x 18 inch 9 x 12 Inches 11 x 14 inch 9 x 12 inches 9 x 12 inches 9 x 12 inches 6x9
Paper Finish Watercolor Smooth Watercolor Watercolor Watercolor Smooth Watercolor Smooth Watercolor Matte
Sheet Count 500 500 - 500 - 24 - - 100 500
Paper Weight 57 50 - 48 - 80 - - 70 22
Style Standard Weight Versatile - Lightweight - Versatile - - plain Music
Paper Dimensions 9 x 12 inches 9 x 12 inches - 12 x 18 inches - 11 x 14 inches - - 9 x 12 inches 6 x 9 inches
Unit Count 500.0 Count 500.0 Count - 1.0 Count - 1.0 Count - - 100.0 Count 500.0 Count
Item Weight 5.78 Pounds 5 pounds - 11 Pounds - 4.6 ounces - - 0.41 Kilograms 16 ounces
FTB Score
ftb score rating icon 9.9
ftb score rating icon 9.8
ftb score rating icon 9.6
ftb score rating icon 9.4
ftb score rating icon 9.4
ftb score rating icon 9.3
ftb score rating icon 9.3
ftb score rating icon 9.1
ftb score rating icon 9.1
ftb score rating icon 9.1
Where to Buy